14 Night Jewish Heritage In-Depth

Tour Rates & Dates:

*Please note that all rates displayed are based on standard room double occupancy.
All rates above are in US Dollars, and are based on full payment by credit card.
Discount for check payments available later in the booking process.
(Deposit can still be paid by credit card).
Upgraded room categories may be available to book later in the booking process.
If Land & Air price is displayed, the air portion includes tax and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change until ticketed.

Tour Overview:

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These Israel Tours are designed to engage participants from a Jewish perspective - exploring the historical, political and religious sites and institutions that make Israel such a unique destination.

On-line booking
is available for all our Jewish Heritage In Depth Tours to Israel.
Explore the possibilities on-line, or call us at 800-237-1517 to
find the right tour for you!

This In-Depth Tour
Includes:

5 Nights in Tel Aviv2 Nights in the Galilee5 Nights in Jerusalem2 Nights in EilatFully escorted with a professional guide throughoutExplore Independence Hall & the Ayalon InstituteWalk among the artists & entertainers at Nachalat BinyaminExplore the Crusader-era fortifications in AkkoView the ancient Roman ruins in CaesareaSee the Bahai Temple & Persian Gardens in Haifa View the amazing chalk cliff grottoes of Rosh HanikraExplore the mystical city of SafedEnjoy a Jeep tour to the Golan
HeightsView the Roman ruins of Beit Alpha & Beit SheanVisit the exquisite shops along the Cardo in Jerusalem's Old CityEnjoy a fascinating visit through the famed Western Wall
TunnelsLearn about the history of Jerusalem at the Citadel Museum See the Knesset,
Israel's ParliamentExplore the treasures at the world class Israel MuseumTour Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the HolocaustLearn the stories of King Herod's desert palace at Masada Enjoy an unsinkable float in the Dead
SeaSee the breathtaking Ramon Crater in Mitzpe RamonVisit an authentic Bedouin tent & enjoy a camel rideMarvel at the beautiful desert landscape of TimnaVisit Eilat's fascinating Underwater ObservatoryOptional tour (additional coast) to Petra, Jordan

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Rates Include Following
Services:

Transfers upon arrival and departure (to/from Ben
Gurion airport)14 nights hotel accomodation with breakfast dailyLunch at
the Dead SeaDesert experience withlunch in the Negev2 dinners at Kibbutz
Lavi10 touring days with an expert, certified English speaking
guideEntrance fees top the sites visited as per itinerary*Notes:
Standard rooms are offered throughout. If standard rooms are unavailable at the
time of booking at any given property, upgraded rooms, if available, may be
offered to the client at an additional charge. Hotels may be substituted with
similar hotels in the same category.

*Itineraries may be subject to
change.

Rates Do Not Include:

* Border fees & taxes for Petra trip - roughly $65 per person, payable in USD at the border* Jordan Visa - $69 including processing. Ayelet Tours will coordinate the visa - passport information must be accurate and submitted no later than 7 days prior to arrival* Tips to driver, guide,
waitstaff, porters, housekeepers, etc. (Budget about $15.00 per person per
day)* Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended; see options at www.ayelet.com)* Any items of personal nature or meals not specifically listed as included

• Depart the United States on our overnight flight to Israel. (Contact Ayelet Tours for assistance booking flights.)

DAY 2, WEDNESDAY - ARRIVAL

• Shalom and welcome to Israel.• Greeting and assistance by an Ayelet representative.• Transfer to our hotel; remainder of the day is on own at leisure.

Overnight Tel Aviv

DAY 3, THURSDAY - TEL AVIV, LATRUN, BEIT GUVRIN, AYALON

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Begin our day at Independence Hall site of the 1948 signing of Israel's Declaration of Independence. • Visit Latrun, Israel's outdoor Armored Corps Museum and Memorial. Here we explore and touch the tanks and artillery used by the Israeli Defense Force and enemy armies throughout the country's history. • Continue to Beit Guvrin National Park where we explore parts of the archeological remains and unique caves. • Continue to the Ayalon Institute, an underground ammunition factory that played a pivotal role in Israel's fight for independence at the end of the British Mandate.

Overnight Tel Aviv

DAY 4, FRIDAY - TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Visit the Diaspora Museum, where we learn about the history of Jewish emigration since the destruction of the Second Temple and see models of some of the world's most well known and majestic synagogues. • Drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, Israel's vibrant center of business and entertainment. • Stop for a moment of reflection at Rabin Square, place of the assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin. • Visit one of the oldest ports in the world at Ancient Jaffa, where we walk among the many artists, vendors and cafes as we hear the history of the ancient port. • Continue to Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1909, now experiencing a renaissance.• Enjoy the entertainers, artists, shop owners, colorful vendors and craftspeople who bring the streets to life on Nachalat Binyamin.• Next we stop at Sheinkin, the lively and colorful street especially known with for its unique shops and cafes.

Overnight Tel Aviv

DAY 5, SATURDAY - TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Enjoy the day at leisure - it's a wonderful chance to experience all this modern Mediterranean city has to offer.

Overnight: Tel Aviv

DAY 6, SUNDAY - CAESAREA, HAIFA, AKKO, ROSH HANIKRA, KIBBUTZ

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Drive along the Mediterranean Coast to Caesarea, the ancient Roman capital of the area. Here we view the Roman Theater, the aqueduct, and ancient port as well as the impressive excavations of the Crusaders' city.• We continue to Haifa to visit the Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum ("Af al Pi Chen") and hear the story of the illegal immigrants to Israel at the time of the British mandate. • Visit Akko's Crusader era fortress before walking through its colorful bazaar to the port. • Drive north along the coast to Rosh Hanikra, and descend by cable car to experience close up, the amazing limestone grottos carved by the sea. • Arrive at kibbutz for dinner.

Overnight Kibbutz in the Galilee

DAY 7, MONDAY - SAFED, GOLAN, JORDAN RIVER, TEL HAI

• Breakfast at our kibbutz.• We tour the mystical city of Safed - center of Kabalistic practice. Explore the narrow alleyways lined with ancient synagogues and artists' galleries. • Enjoy a jeep ride up to the Golan Heights, where we pass former Syrian bunkers and stop atop Har Bental for panoramic views stretching far into neighboring Syria. • Take in the view at the Mitzpe Gadot overlook, the memorial site for the fallen people of the Golan.• Visit Tel Hai to see the ‘Roaring Lion” monument and learn about the heroic battle of Josef Trumpledor and his comrades. • Dinner at our kibbutz. • Meet with a kibbutz member to learn about their unique lifestyle, and the challenges and changes to their communal arrangements over the decades.

Overnight Kibbutz in the Galilee

DAY 8, TUESDAY - KINNERET, BEIT SHE'AN, GILBOA, JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our kibbutz.• Travel to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where we visit Rambam's grave.• Visit the extensive Roman ruins of Beit Shean, destroyed over 1,300 years ago by earthquake, and recently excavated and reconstructed on a massive and impressive scale.• Visit the intricate mosaics in the synagogue at Beit Alpha.• We continue to Gan Hashlosha, (Sachne) where, weather permitting, we enjoy a dip in the sparkling warm waters. These natural springs are often referred to as the original Garden of Eden. • Continue via the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem. • Ascend to Jerusalem, pausing at Mt. Scopus for a special opportunity to say "Sh'hekiyanu!" together as we look out over The City of Gold for the first time.

Overnight Jerusalem

DAY 9, WEDNESDAY - OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM, WESTERN WALL

• Breakfast at our hotel. • We begin our tour of the Old City of Jerusalem with visit to the tomb of King David on Mt. Zion. • Explore the Cardo, the ancient Roman marketplace now featuring outstanding shopping opportunities. We then visit four Sephardic synagogues in the Jewish quarter restored after the 1967 War. • Continue to the Western Wall Tunnels, where we discover the archeological wonders that remained untouched for centuries. • Visit the Davidson Center, built into the ancient stones adjacent to the Temple Mount.• Stroll through the colorful marketplace to the Jaffa Gate and visit the Citadel Museum at David's Tower, to learn more about Jerusalem's 3000 years of history.

Overnight Jerusalem

DAY 10, THURSDAY - YAD VASHEM - MODERN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.• This morning, we share the joy as we view the many Bar Mitzvah ceremonies at the Kotel. • Continue on to Mea Shearim neighborhood to learn about the unique lifestyle of the Ultra-Orthodox residents. • Visit Mt Herzl, Jerusalem's military cemetery and learn from our guide some of the heroic stories of those buried here.• Drive to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the 6 Million Jews murdered in the Holocaust - here we view the many moving exhibitions including the Hall of Names and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations. • Explore the bunkers at Ammunition Hill, the official museum symbolizing the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem.• Drive by the Knesset, Israel's Parliament and see the Menorah. • Browse the extensive galleries of the Israel Museum, which recently completed a $100 million renovation and is world class in every way. The galleries range from Pop and Modern art, back through the Renaissance and Classical periods, with a strong emphasis on Jewish and Israeli archeological history with evidence going back thousands of years. Walk through the iconic Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and see the impressive scale replica, in miniature, of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period.

Overnight Jerusalem

DAY 11, FRIDAY - MASADA, DEAD SEA

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Early this morning we depart for the Dead Sea Basin.• Stop at Qumeran, site where Dead Sea scrolls were found. • Ascend to King Herod's fortresses and castle atop Masada, ascending by cable car. • Visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, and the bathhouses, learning about the Jewish Zealots last stand against the Roman forces.• Enjoy lunch and an unsinkable swim in the healing salty waters of the Dead Sea• Return to Jerusalem. Overnight Jerusalem

DAY 12, SATURDAY - JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Free morning with the opportunity to attend Shabbat services (on own).• Free day to enjoy the calm of Shabbat.

Overnight Jerusalem

DAY 13, SUNDAY - NEGEV - TIMNA - EILAT

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Travel south through the Negev desert. • Visit Timna with its impressive and beautiful desert stone landscapes, once home to King Solomon's Copper Mines. Marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations. Then, continue on to Eilat. • In Eilat, we visit the fascinating Underwater Observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world, built into a coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat.

Overnight Eilat

DAY 14, MONDAY - EILAT

• Breakfast at our hotel.• Enjoy a day of leisure relaxing or enjoying some of the many water sports on the shores of the Red Sea OR opt for an exciting day tour to Petra in Jordan*.*OPTIONAL DAY TOUR TO PETRA (Additional cost applies)• A mini-bus will provide early morning pick-up at hotels and transfer to the Jordanian border for crossing formalities. • After assistance with visa processing, we continue across the border into Jordan, and board our bus to begin our touring experience.?? Drive through desert highways to our ultimate destination, the astonishing rose-red city of Petra. Petra was renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans (an early Arab tribe) who settled in the South of Jordan more than two thousand years ago. • The visit begins with the possibility of a short horseback-ride for about 700 meters(a little less than ½ mile) to the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2 km (3/4 mile) long (walking distance). • There is a possibility to rent a cart (extra cost) to get inside Petra and back to the gate outside.• Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as The Treasury, Royal Tombs, The Court, Roman Theatre, Roman Street, Qassier El- Bint (Palace of Pharaoh's daughter) and many other smaller monuments which fascinate visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square km and is considered to be the Eighth Wonder of the World.• Late lunch is included.• Arrive at Jordan/Israel border around 6:00 PM to conclude crossing formalities. • Cross the border back into Israel & return to Eilat for a free evening.

Overnight Eilat

DAY 15, TUESDAY - EILAT- RAMON CRATER - HATZERIM - TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel• This morning, we travel north to the edge of the breath taking crater at Mitzpe Ramon. • Continue to Sde Boker to Ben Gurion's Hut and Gravesite, where we will recall his dream of turning the desert green, and see the ways it is becoming a reality.• Afterwards, we enjoy a camel riding experience with visit to an authentic Bedouin tent to experience their desert hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. • Head north to the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim, to see aircraft from throughout Israel's history. • Drive on to Tel Aviv.

Overnight Tel Aviv

DAY 16, WEDNESDAY - DEPARTURE

• Breakfast at our hotel• Depart for Ben Gurion Airport for our flight back to the United States. L'hitraot!

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!

* Itinerary subject to change* Visit subject to availability

The above program can be extended and customized for groups and private families.

A PUBLIC GROUP DAY TOUR TO PETRA may be added for $275.00 per person, not including visa fee or border taxes. Listed tour cost and Jordanian visa fee/processing charge of $69.00 are payable in advance and non-refundable.

NOTE:Travelers to Petra must provide accurate passport information to allow Ayelet Tours to secure your Jordanian visa a minimum of 10 days in advance of travel. In addition, travelers must carry a valid passport and $65.00 per person in US currency for border taxes on the day of the Petra tour. Credit cards and travelers checks are not accepted at border crossing. Rates subject to change without notice.

Please note: If you depart from Israel during your visit (for example to go to Jordan or Egypt even for one day) VAT refund must be requested from customs at your departure land border at the time you depart. VAT at Ben Gurion airport will only process the refund for any goods purchased since last date of entry into Israel.